Hervey Bay’s Mellessa ‘Ruby’ Togo sentenced for role in drug trafficking ring

A mum, who played a key role in a major meth ring operating between Hervey Bay and Logan, has been sentenced for drug trafficking.

Mellessa “Ruby” Togo, 35, pleaded guilty in Maryborough Supreme Court to drug trafficking.

A mum at the centre of a drug ring, selling meth and cannabis to more than 100 customers, has been told her daughter would be “better off without her” if she doesn’t walk away from her life of crime.

Mellessa “Ruby” Togo, 35, pleaded guilty in Maryborough Supreme Court to drug trafficking.

The court heard Togo came to the attention of police while they were targeting a drug operation in Hervey Bay.

During her offending, Togo allegedly sourced the drugs from Kim Beech, who police allege ran the operation between Hervey Bay and Logan.

On one occasion, she owed him $4000, police allege, and the court heard she met with him on 52 occasions, sourcing drugs and paying for drugs she had sold.

During her offending, Mellissa "Ruby" Togo allegedly bought drugs from Kim Beech, who police allege ran the operation between Hervey Bay and Logan.

Phone intercepts would also play a part in cracking the investigation.

Police found evidence of 200 actual supplies of drugs to more than 100 different customers and 140 attempts to supply over a period of about five months.

The quantities were not clear, but the drugs were understood to have been sold at street levels.

A search warrant executed by police revealed the extent of Togo’s offending.

At her home they found her phone, with evidence of drug messages, as well as scales and clip seal bags for dividing up the drugs.

Togo allowed customers to buy drugs “on credit” and she sometimes chased down debts, including threatening violence on two occasions.

There was no evidence she had ever engaged in actual violence, the court was told.

At one point, she had boasted about how much money she had made, but she was not living a lavish lifestyle as a result of her criminal activities, defence barrister Callum Cassidy said.

Mellesa Kathleen Ruby Togo.

Mr Cassidy said Togo had been a law abiding and contributing member of the community until she was arrested on weapons offences in 2016, causing her to lose her job.

From there, her life had “started to unravel” and she had been in and out of court on drug offences since that time.

After her arrest on the trafficking charge, she had spent 342 days in presentence custody.

Justice Graeme Crow said Togo was a good example of what meth did to otherwise decent people, saying it made them do things they “wouldn’t dream of doing”.

“It’s a vicious industry,” he said.

“Your life will be a disaster if you return to illicit drugs.

“If you’re strong enough to turn your back on drugs, you can regain your life.

“Otherwise your daughter will grow up without you and she will be better off without you.”

Togo was sentenced to four and a half years in prison.

She was given parole eligibility on June 23.